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CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION: WHICH APPS SHOULD YOU DOWNLOAD FOR ICELAND? 💥
Being well informed before you leave makes planning a trip much easier, and that’s even truer in Iceland 🇮🇸, where the weather and road conditions often decide your day. In this article, I share the apps and websites we used on our 12-day road trip on the Ring Road, in March 2023: weather, roads, alerts, emergencies, parking, northern lights, GPS…
Tourism used to be dominated by travel agencies. Today, travelers plan their own trips thanks to real-time information, right in the palm of their hand 📱. The goal here: a list just for Iceland, to bookmark before you go ✈️.
🗺️ Planning your trip? Find all our tips and articles in our complete guide to traveling in Iceland.
THE MAP OF OUR ICELAND ROAD TRIP 🗺️
To help you plan your itinerary, we’ve gathered every place from our 12-day road trip in Iceland 🇮🇸 on an interactive map: waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches, hot springs and stopover towns, all the way around Route 1. Click on each pin to discover the place in detail 📍. And to keep it handy during your trip, open it in Google Maps: you’ll find it easily on your phone 📱.
Our itinerary
Our trip to Iceland
12 days10 stops1 full loop of Route 1Dacia Duster 4x4 in winter
The stops, in order
- 1
Reykjavik
1 night
Arrival at Keflavík and car pick-up
- 2
Selfoss
1 night
Golden Circle: Þingvellir, Geysir, Gullfoss and Kerið
- 3
Hof
2 nights
South coast waterfalls, Reynisfjara, ice cave and Diamond Beach
- 4
Reyðarfjörður
1 night
The Eastfjords and the pebble beaches of Hvalnes
- 5
Egilsstaðir
1 night
Seyðisfjörður, its blue church and its rainbow street
- 6
Mývatn
1 night
Dettifoss, Hverir and the Mývatn Nature Baths
- 7
Akureyri
1 night
Hverfjall, Dimmuborgir and Goðafoss
- 8
Bifröst
1 night
Glaumbær turf houses, Grábrók crater
- 9
Hvalfjörður
1 night
The Snæfellsnes Peninsula and Kirkjufell
- 10
Reykjavik
1 night
Fagradalsfjall volcano, Blue Lagoon and Sky Lagoon
OUR LIST OF ESSENTIAL APPS FOR ICELAND 📱
Here’s an at-a-glance look at the apps and websites we used on site, which we then cover one by one 👇:
- 🌨️ Vedur.is: weather and wind, the go-to reference.
- 🚗 Umferdin.is (formerly Road.is): road conditions and webcams.
- 📰 SafeTravel: real-time alerts, road closures and eruptions.
- 🚨 112 Iceland: contact emergency services and send your GPS location.
- 🅿️ Parka: pay for parking and some campsites.
- ⭐ My Aurora Forecast: northern lights forecasts.
- 🗺️ Google Maps: GPS, with offline maps.
- 🚌 Klappid: Reykjavik’s buses.
- 🥾 GetYourGuide: booking your tours.
ICELAND WEATHER APP: VEDUR.IS 🌨️
The weather is crucial in Iceland, especially on secondary roads (and even on the Ring Road 😂), whatever the season. Vedur is the Icelandic Meteorological Office, the equivalent of the National Weather Service. Its advantage: you can check the weather, precipitation and above all the wind across the whole island, one of the most critical factors ⚠️.
It’ll help you make the best decisions for your drives, hikes or trips into the Highlands. The site also publishes weather warnings (yellow, orange, red) and northern lights forecasts. It’s our essential reference in Iceland: en.vedur.is.
ICELAND ROAD CONDITIONS APP: UMFERDIN.IS (FORMERLY ROAD.IS) 🚗
Alongside Vedur, check the road administration’s website for road conditions across the country 🇮🇸. The former Road.is now redirects to Umferdin.is, which has the same information: open or closed roads, snow, ice, wind on each section and webcams to see conditions live.
You can zoom in on each part of the island, which is very useful from November to March, when some roads close for a few hours or a few days 👌. We used it with Vedur to plan our drives.
🚗 To go further, check out our tips for driving in Iceland in winter.
SAFETRAVEL: REAL-TIME ALERTS, ROADS AND ERUPTIONS 📰
For me, it’s one of the best apps for Iceland 👍. The design is perfect. The website and app let you follow everything happening in the country in real time: volcanic eruptions, gas emissions, landslides, roads to avoid, trail closures, weather warnings… The road map is very interactive 🗺️, clear and easy to use.
With these three tools, you have everything you need to plan your days and make the right decisions on your road trip. SafeTravel even has a little quiz to find out whether you’d be a good driver in Iceland (summer and winter): enough to realize that Iceland can completely change how you see driving 😉. We also talk about it in our 10 things to know before going to Iceland.
RENTING A CAR IN ICELAND 🚗
To explore Iceland, we think a rental car is the best option: you’re free to string together waterfalls, glaciers, black sand beaches and hot springs at your own pace, and stop whenever a landscape catches your eye, without depending on organized tours 🏔️.
We drove all the way around Iceland on Route 1 in a 4×4, in the middle of March, and everything went really well. Here’s the agency we used and recommend, plus an alternative if you’d rather compare 👇
Our rental tip
Renting a car in Iceland
The agency we used, and an alternative to compare.
Blue Car Rental
Iceland's largest local rental company
We rented our Dacia Duster 4x4 with them for the whole loop around the island: we recommend them without hesitation!
Our budget€62013 days, full insurance · ~€48/day
- Tested on all of Route 1
- Insurance included, no deposit
- Free cancellation
DiscoverCars
Rental comparison site
To compare several Icelandic rental companies in a single search.
Excellent rating290,000+ Trustpilot reviews
- 1,000+ rental companies compared
- Free cancellation
- 24/7 support
To compare before you choose
Good to know before you rent
- Gravel, sand and ashThe wind blasts gravel and sand onto the bodywork: make sure these protections are included.
- Check the roads every morningLook at road.is and safetravel.is before setting off: in winter, a road can close within a few hours.
- Your French driving license is enoughIt's accepted in Iceland. The international driving permit is optional: only if you want one.
- Photos and video at pick-upFilm the car from every angle when you collect it, to avoid any dispute when you return it.
- Fill up whenever you canGas stations are rare in the East and North, and often self-service: bring a card with a PIN code.
- Hold on to the doorsIn strong winds, a door can be ripped off as it opens: park facing the wind and open gently.
112 ICELAND: CONTACTING EMERGENCY SERVICES IN ICELAND 🚨
The 112 Iceland app ⚠️ lets you contact emergency services, very useful in Iceland where you’ll often be isolated, on the road as well as on hikes. The first time you open it, you enter your information (name, phone…). If something goes wrong, a button sends your GPS location to emergency services 🛰️, and the app also lets you text with 112.
It’s especially useful if you head into the Highlands or onto remote trails, where you might be on your own for a while. We hope you’ll never need it, but it doesn’t take up much space on your phone.
ICELAND PARKING APP: PARKA 🅿️
Iceland is heading toward fully cashless payments 💳. Lots of parking lots are paid: in Reykjavik, in Akureyri, and at the big natural sites like Þingvellir and Geysir (1,000 ISK). The Parka app lets you pay for parking right from your phone, as well as some campsites.
We used it on our road trip, and it was very handy. You can also pay on site by scanning the parking lot’s QR code, which takes you to the payment page, but having the app saves you hunting for the machine. Some parking lots also accept EasyPark. For all the ways to pay on site, read how to pay in Iceland.
ICELAND CAMPING APP: HOW TO FIND A CAMPSITE? ⛺
We didn’t camp on our trip (in March, we preferred hotels and guesthouses), but it’s a question that comes up a lot. Keep in mind that wild camping isn’t allowed in a van, a camper or a tent next to your car: you have to sleep at a campsite.
Campsites are easy to find on Google Maps, and several can be paid for directly on Parka. In summer, the most popular ones fill up fast: remember to book or arrive early, and check that they’re open, as many close in winter. To compare vans, campers and cars, it’s all in our article on renting a car in Iceland, and our accommodation is in where to stay in Iceland.
NORTHERN LIGHTS APP: MY AURORA FORECAST ⭐
One of Iceland’s big draws is the northern lights 😍. On a trip to Iceland, this show is absolutely magnificent (even if it often looks even better in photos), especially if you’ve never seen it! In winter (September to March), you have a good chance of spotting them 🤞.
To boost your chances, download My Aurora Forecast. It uses your location to assess your chances of seeing the northern lights and even sends you alerts 🔔. It’s the one we used, and it was really good. I also switched back and forth with Hello Aurora, which offers another perspective. The result: we saw the northern lights on four nights of our 12-day road trip, starting the very first night right in Reykjavik, then alone in the world at Potato Storage 🤩.
Keep in mind that the app can’t do everything: you also need clear skies (check the cloud cover on Vedur) and a spot away from the lights, facing north.
🌌 To find out when and where to see the northern lights, and to read about our four nights of aurora on the road trip, check out our article on the northern lights in Iceland.
GOOGLE MAPS: GPS AND OFFLINE MAPS 🗺️
It’s the essential app to have on your smartphone, whether it’s to get to waterfalls and sights or to find restaurants, hotels, gas stations and campsites 😛. It’s the GPS we used for the whole road trip.
TIP: cell coverage is excellent in Iceland, but for peace of mind, download the offline maps of Iceland in Google Maps before you go. It’s free, and you’ll have GPS even without a signal. No need for another map app.
Want an Iceland tour tailored to you? 🇮🇸
Travel has become more accessible, and today anyone can plan everything themselves. But let's be honest… it takes time and quite a bit of know-how. 😅
To plan a tailor-made tour of Iceland, we have Tourlane, an online specialist in tailor-made and multi-destination trips. A travel expert builds your itinerary around what you want (length, budget, pace, northern lights, Highlands…) and adds their own hidden gems: places to stay that are worth the trip, stops you won't necessarily find in the guidebooks…
Founded in 2016 in Berlin, Tourlane turns a still-vague idea into a perfectly orchestrated experience. From the first spark of inspiration until you're back home, it handles all the organization and supports you every step of the way. The ideal option for a personalized trip to Iceland, and even more so if you want to combine several countries. 🌍
KLAPPID: REYKJAVIK’S BUSES 🚌
Reykjavik is an easy city to explore on foot, especially downtown. But if you don’t rent a vehicle (which I strongly recommend, though; see our article on renting a car in Iceland), the Klappid app lets you use Reykjavik’s public transportation 🚌.
It calculates routes and travel times (a map even tracks the bus so you don’t miss your stop), and lets you buy and validate your tickets right on the bus.
GETYOURGUIDE: BOOKING YOUR TOURS 🥾
There are lots of tours in Iceland, but they can get expensive fast 💰: the Golden Circle, an ice cave on Vatnajökull, the Blue Lagoon… If you don’t have a vehicle, plan them ahead. The GetYourGuide app lets you keep track of your bookings and picture your trip.
If you really want to do an activity, lock in the dates quickly. If you like to plan ahead (like me), book in advance: cancellation is free on most tours 👇.
FAQ: APPS IN ICELAND ❓
Here are the most frequently asked questions about which apps to download for Iceland. Feel free to ask yours in the comments, and I’ll add to this FAQ 💬.
The essentials: Vedur for the weather, Umferdin.is (formerly Road.is) for road conditions, SafeTravel for alerts, 112 Iceland for emergencies, Parka for parking, My Aurora Forecast for the northern lights and Google Maps with offline maps.
Vedur.is, the Icelandic Meteorological Office’s website. It gives the weather, precipitation, wind and warnings. Personally, I find the website more complete than the app.
On Umferdin.is (formerly Road.is), which shows open or closed roads, snow and ice, and has webcams. SafeTravel also has a very clear road map.
Parka, which lets you pay for parking in Reykjavik, Akureyri and at many natural sites, as well as some campsites. You can also pay on site by scanning the parking lot’s QR code.
Campsites are easy to find on Google Maps, and several can be paid for on Parka. Wild camping in a van, a camper or a tent next to your car isn’t allowed: you have to sleep at a campsite.
My Aurora Forecast, which we used, and Hello Aurora. Combine them with the cloud cover on Vedur. We saw the northern lights on four nights out of 12 days.
No, Google Maps is enough. Download offline maps of Iceland before you go so you have GPS even without a signal.
Yes, in most cases: if you have a European plan, Iceland is part of the European Economic Area, so EU roaming applies. Check the “Europe” data allowance on your plan; with a non-European plan, check your carrier’s international options.
Dial 112, or use the 112 Iceland app, which sends your GPS location to emergency services and lets you communicate by text.
Klappid, which calculates routes, tracks buses in real time and lets you buy and validate your tickets.
WHERE TO STAY IN ICELAND 🏨
During our 12-day road trip in Iceland 🇮🇸, we slept in 9 different places, alternating between hotels and guesthouses, almost all booked on Booking. Changing accommodation every night is the best way to loop around the island without piling up hours of driving 🚗.
OUR TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE RIGHT PLACE TO STAY
- 📅 Book ahead: outside Reykjavik, accommodation is scarce and the best places go fast.
- 🍳 Breakfast included: very handy, because cafés and restaurants are rare on the road. We often used it to make our lunch sandwiches.
- 🛒 A kitchen in remote areas: around Jökulsárlón, the nearest supermarket can be more than an hour’s drive away. Do your shopping before you arrive.
- ♨️ A hot tub: after a day in the cold and wind, it’s pure bliss. Several of our places had one.
- 🌌 Away from the lights: in winter, a place in the countryside gives you a better chance of seeing the northern lights right from your door.
- ✅ Free cancellation, to stay flexible if the weather forces you to change your itinerary.
HOTEL OR GUESTHOUSE IN ICELAND?
Both have their advantages. A guesthouse is often cozier, sometimes with a kitchen to cook your own meals. A hotel is more convenient for a one-night stop, with a reception desk, a restaurant and often breakfast included. As for us, we liked both. It all depends on what you want, your budget and how you like to travel.
HOW MUCH DOES ACCOMMODATION COST IN ICELAND?
Iceland isn’t a cheap destination, and accommodation is one of the biggest items in the budget. We paid between €78 and €162 a night for two. To be completely transparent with you: €1,366 for 11 nights, or about €124 a night on average (that was in 2023, prices may have changed since).
👇 Here are the 8 places where we slept during our road trip that still welcome travelers, in the order of our itinerary.
Tested during our road trip
Our 8 places to stay in Iceland
GuesthouseHotel
-
HotelReykjavik201 Hótel (Kópavogur)
Right next to the capital, handy for the first and last night of the road trip.
- Double room
- Breakfast included
- Close to Reykjavik
- Guesthouse
SelfossLambastaðir Guesthouse
A quiet guesthouse, perfect for sleeping after a day on the Golden Circle.
- Hot tub and sauna
- Breakfast included
- After the Golden Circle
- GuesthouseOur favorite
SvínafellThe Potato Storage
Our absolute favorite of the trip: an exceptional place at the foot of the glaciers.
- Our best place to stay
- Fully equipped kitchen
- Close to Jökulsárlón
- Hotel
EgilsstaðirHótel Eyvindará
A quiet hotel on the edge of Egilsstaðir, with a hot tub to unwind.
- Hot tub
- Breakfast included
- Near Seyðisfjörður
- Hotel
MývatnVogafjós Farm Resort
A farm on the shores of Lake Mývatn, chosen for watching the northern lights.
- Ideal for the northern lights
- On-site restaurant
- Breakfast included
- Hotel
AkureyriCentrum Hótel
Right in the town center, a stone's throw from Akureyri church: you can do everything on foot.
- Town center
- Breakfast included
- Superior room
- Hotel
BifröstHraunsnef Country Hotel
A country hotel in the middle of nowhere, with a hot tub and a restaurant.
- Hot tub
- On-site restaurant
- Breakfast included
- Guesthouse
HvalfjörðurHótel Laxárbakki
A stop on the edge of the fjord, ideal after a day on Snæfellsnes.
- Hot tub
- On-site restaurant
- Heading back to Reykjavik
MY MUST-HAVE TRAVEL GEAR 🧳
It’s a question that comes up a lot when preparing a trip “What should I bring?” And in Iceland even more than elsewhere, because the cold, wind and rain can quickly ruin a day if you’re poorly equipped 🥶. That’s why you’ll find below the travel accessories we had in our bags. Planning ahead and getting these items in advance helps you save money and avoid paying for some of them on the spot, where everything costs much more 💸 These are the accessories we took to Iceland in the middle of winter 👇.
Our road trip checklist
What to pack for Iceland?
What we had in our bags for 12 winter days. Good news: the outlets are the same as in France, no adapter needed.
0 / 12 in my suitcase · check what you already have
- Essential
Cold & snowHeat Holders thermal socks
The ones we took: to keep your feet warm on walks in the snow.
- Essential
Cold & snowThermal underwear
Thermal leggings and T-shirt under your clothes: the basics for facing the Icelandic wind.
- Essential
Cold & snowWarm gloves
A pair of ski gloves against the wind, and a thin pair for taking photos.
- Essential
Cold & snowBeanie and neck warmer
The wind is often strong, especially near the waterfalls and on the black sand beaches.
- Essential
Cold & snowWaterproof hiking boots
Icy trails, snow and waterfall spray: dry feet all day long.
- Essential
ElectronicsPower bank
The cold drains batteries fast: your phone lasts until evening.
- Recommended
Baths & waterWaterproof phone pouch
To take photos in the hot baths with no risk to your phone.
- Recommended
Baths & waterMicrofiber towel
Light and quick-drying: handy for baths and hot springs.
- Recommended
Baths & waterWater bottle
Tap water is excellent in Iceland: no need to buy bottles.
- Bonus
Travel & securityEmergency blanket
Keep it in the car, in case a closed road forces you to wait.
- Bonus
Travel & securityTSA lock
To lock your suitcase on the plane, with no risk of it being broken at security.
- Bonus
Travel & securityAirTag
To track your suitcase if your luggage is delayed or lost.
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